Fireflies >< (Part 2)

In the June 14th, 2006 "Fireflies" blog, I lamented about people whose lives hold more challenges than many, the blind, the broken hearted and grieving, the aging, those bent and broken. Now as we acknowledge another holiday season, there is a keen awareness of those who, by their own design or have been dealt an unfair hand, would just as soon forget this time of year when great dreams and wishes have not come true with the probability of them not happening at all.

We see people another type of "Firefly" close to home or far away suffering, lost, wandering aimlessly. What and when will they eat their next meal? Where will they sleep, how will they be protected from the harshness of the elements. The cold air bites as hard as the razor sharp teeth of a hungry shark. Not having shelter or someone to come home to let alone having a place at all to call home. I wonder how so many people end up displaced, without the comfort of a warm bed and roof over their head. What happened? How can a person, a child, a pet, families be out in the cold? In a country with resources such as the United States it seems that it is more like the Divided States of a sad America with the haves and the have not's left to figure things out.  Find a way to survive, thrive, live a comfortable, happy, healthy life free from agonizing worries and fear, scared about the future and what lies ahead. Any attempt to fly away from the scorching oppressive heat of bad decisions, scathing disappointments, displacement, life's cruel conditions and circumstances smolder and feel like hell when the big questions are; "What is the next move and where is a safe place to go?"

If and when we see a "firefly" we must do what we can to lift the burden(s), one person at a time. Whatever it is that we might offer if only a sincere prayer and good thought that they may somehow find their way, find relief from their misery, a way out of the darkness into some manner of comfort. What can I do besides look away into the next thought or place unencumbered by the sorrowful weight of knowing someone is suffering so. What can I do then but be as good and grateful a person as possible. In a world where the scales of justice, peace and prosperity are so unbalanced it would seem the very least I can do is to cast a good light on whomever I encounter. Shed a light of peace and kindness, a compassionate attitude toward others everywhere without judgement and while I'm at it perhaps provide sustenance of some sort to one brought down by hardship. Something to support another being through life, a spark of hope, a gesture of goodness that might shore-up a person who is down. 

It is well within our scope to be a soft and strong landing for another if only for the moment. Whatever it is we do, we do in the name of being humane, soulful and empathetic. To handle one another with care is best as all of us have found ourselves at times, fireflies wandering and wondering where, how, when and who will hear our cry, understand our pain, our quest for peace and longing for a fair and level playing field where hope, peace and joy are truly the order of the day and dreams seem as possible and probable as the best times of our lives and fireflies fly freely, capable of taking good care of themselves and light the way for others lost in the darkness.

The Human Condition

Behold, humankind! Evolving toward the best versions of ourselves at the same time regressing into dark places, places that represents the worst in humankind, cold and cruel. Given the chance to start all over again how long can the human race sustain the beautiful harmonious notes of peace and respect, fairness and justice for all. We become rewired and advance to the point of the inability to think or behave in any negative or destructive way toward ourselves or anybody else. In Buddhism the ultimate goal of a good life is to live a simple existence, giving and receiving compassion, love, and respect, the very basics to enjoy peace of mind and contentment, happy and healthy.

Children, elders, others with little or no voice are only treated kindly and patiently. The world has elevated itself to a place that thrives on everything good, resources are equally distributed and everyone is grateful for every little and big thing. Every color, culture and every nation goes about life in peace. There are no exceptions in a utopia-type world order where humans are now conditioned to cherish and respect every inhabitant of this precious place in the universe.

We want to think positively with a fresh attitude toward our own place in the world, to believe it is a new time in life and a good time to be alive. In the whole scheme of things we experience moments and fragments of perfection. Possibilities and probabilities go their own way in reality. We hope and hold on to better days, better ways to think and be happy and share what we can to cultivate a good life for each other. We pray for peace and hope for miracles and changes that need to be made to create all of the things that transform heartache to happiness and emptiness to fullness, sadness to joy.
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WORD ~

Beautiful, big, broken, bent, bruised, full, swollen, bearing the brunt of whatever it is you are going through, getting over or feeling at any given moment, the heart takes it for the team. Every part of the whole is counting on the heart to beat in time with all matters of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual concerns. The inner chambers driven by strength and goodness as each dashing and dangling moment whether mundane, predictable, triumphant or tragic, the heart beats to the sound of it's own movements.

Beautiful, blue, big, bountiful, bright, overcast, angry, awesome, absent, hazy, dark and obscured the sky covers our lives like a massive dome that never closes even at night as the stars and the heavens sparkle from their places in the universe.

Beautiful, prayerful, mysterious, mind blowing, heart wrenching and heart warming pearls of wisdom found in collections of words. They are dangerous, disgusting and distinguished, meaningful and meaningless. Singular or strung together potentially powerful at once puny, raw, realistic, fantastic, fancy, passionate, painful and priceless. Words from thought to articulation are lovely and hateful, revolutionary and archaic, concise, convoluted and crystal clear. Communication with words that create sentences and dialog can be outdated, timeless, thought provoking and inspiring.

Words are like little puddles that turn into ponds and streams that turn into lakes and rivers and breathtaking oceans filled with every symbol and sound, letter, word, emotion and expression ever expressed. The mighty sea also swallows it's own salty tears with no words to convey what is beyond adequate description. A simple message reveals ignorance, intelligence,  hopelessness and hope. The string of sentences as fine as a fishing line tangle and untangle, constantly changing direction and right on course navigating through the sea of thought, one word at a time.

A Year

A little over a year now since you've been gone Mom, it seems like this morning when you knew your time to take your leave had arrived; you said; It's time. No don't go Mariana, Maria said, that Saturday morning, January 30th, 2016. You sang a little song, prayed a little prayer and called it a day ~

I drove-up and went straight to your room and walked calmly toward you. I could not get close enough to tell you that I love you, will always hold you in my heart, thoughts and prayers. We knew this moment would happen at God's speed. Still the sting of realities bite was numbing and knocked the breath out of me. I wanted to express my gratitude for taking care of me, all of your six children, keeping us out of trouble not letting up on your wish to know your kids were clear about the difference between right and wrong and the importance of Respect.

Your voice, your laughter, the voice of disapproval, disappointment, anger, joy, frustration, fear, faith, appreciation, love, affection... it is locked and loaded in my memory bank. You influenced me in so many ways, by your example I learned to be kind and compassionate, thoughtful and generous and grateful for blessings bestowed upon us.

I love you Mom. THANK YOU